IAN MCKELLAR SHOCK CHILD PORN CHARGES IN WEST KIRBY

In March 2009, Ian McKellar, a former Conservative councillor from Wirral, faced serious legal consequences after admitting to charges related to child pornography. The disturbing case unfolded in West Kirby, where McKellar, who was once a respected figure in local politics and education, was caught engaging in illicit activities behind the facade of a seemingly normal family life.

McKellar, aged 58 at the time, was discovered to have led a double life. While his wife and two daughters slept peacefully upstairs, he spent hours secretly viewing indecent images of children on his personal computer. These images, downloaded from the internet, revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior that starkly contrasted with his outward appearance as a responsible family man and community member.

The police arrived at McKellar’s West Kirby residence early one morning, specifically on May 11, 2006, and seized his computer equipment. The raid was the culmination of an investigation into his online activities, which had been ongoing for some time. The authorities’ intervention exposed the extent of his illicit interests, which he had kept hidden from everyone around him.

During the court proceedings, Judge David Aubrey, QC, addressed McKellar directly, highlighting the stark contrast between his public persona and his private actions. The judge remarked, “To the outside world you were a pillar of society, an intelligent man with an apparently stable family background, with, no doubt, two delightful children of whom you should be so proud and a loyal and faithful wife.”

He further explained that the police knocking on the door marked the moment McKellar’s secret life was exposed. “The person who knocked was a police officer and the game was up as far as you were concerned,” Judge Aubrey stated. The judge described how McKellar’s wife had become aware of her husband's secret activities, observing him “furtively and surreptitiously examining images on your computer” while she slept. The court inferred that his actions were driven by a desire for sexual gratification, which involved viewing and downloading images depicting child abuse.

Judge Aubrey condemned McKellar’s unhealthy interest, emphasizing that every image he examined contributed to the ongoing abuse of children. “By examining such images and downloading them, you are perpetuating the abuse,” he said. The judge described McKellar’s behavior as “despicable,” quoting one of his daughters’ descriptions of him, and underscored the gravity of his offenses.

McKellar, who runs an auction house in Hoylake, showed no visible emotion during the sentencing. The court was told that if the images had been of a more serious category or if he had distributed them, he could have faced immediate imprisonment. The judge acknowledged the pain and anguish his actions had caused his family but noted that, fortunately, they were working towards reconciliation, with his wife remaining loyal.

The court sentenced McKellar to a community order lasting up to three years, which includes supervision and mandatory participation in a rigorous sex offenders group program. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years and was banned from working with children for life. These measures aimed to prevent any future harm and to monitor his behavior closely.

In his defense, McKellar, who had no prior convictions, expressed relief and gratitude, stating, “I am relieved and grateful and no court will ever see me again.” He also resigned immediately from his positions on the school boards of West Kirby Grammar School for Girls and West Kirby Primary School, where he had served as a governor.

The court heard that McKellar had accessed a total of 1,913 child pornographic images, primarily involving girls aged between 12 and 14, some of whom were depicted naked or in provocative poses. The images ranged from the lowest level of erotic posing to more serious categories, with one in the most severe category and 46 in the category just below.

Prosecutor Robert Jansen explained that police investigations revealed McKellar had been accessing newsgroups and paying to view these illicit images on various websites. The evidence showed a disturbing pattern of behavior that had persisted over several years.

Defending attorney Arthur Gibson pointed out that McKellar had no previous criminal record and had taken immediate steps to resign from his roles on the school boards. Gibson emphasized that McKellar had not deliberately saved the images, which he had been accessing for four years on his computer in the living room while his family slept. He also noted that McKellar’s actions were influenced by alcohol, which lowered his inhibitions, leading him to visit adult websites and view inappropriate content.

Gibson concluded by stating that McKellar had nearly lost everything but was fortunate to retain his family after 26 years of marriage, and expressed hope for his future rehabilitation and reintegration into society.